Collapsible cellular carton



A ril 14, 1953 w. H. lNMAN 2,634,898

COLLAPSIBLE CELLULAR CARTON Filed Aug. 2, 1946 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 April 14, 1953 w, H. lNMAN 2,634,898

COLLAPSIBLE CELLULAR CARTON Filed Aug. 2, 1946 2 Si-IEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR.

47 v 33 46 BYQ Q Patented Apr. 14, 1953 COLLAPSIBLE CELLULAR CARTON William H. Inman, Newark, N. Y., assignor to Bloomer Bros. Company, Newark, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 2, 1946, Serial No. 688,091

3 Claims.

This invention relates to cellular cartons of the variety made from cardboard or other foldable sheet material, for containing eggs or other fragile articles, one object of the invention being to provide an improved carton of the above character having a more simple, practical and eiiicient construction affording a high degree of strength and resistance to crushing of the carton or the contents.

Another object is to supply a carton having the above advantages and capable of being readily cut from sheet material, scored for folding and folded and glued in collapsed condition and of being easily erected in condition for use.

A further object is to provide such a carton having a form of construction eliminating externally projecting supporting legs and other irregular projections and presenting smooth outer wall surfaces when erected and filled with the articles to be contained, so as to obviate entanglement of one carton with another and to facilitate the stacking of quantities of the filled cartons.

Still a further object is the provision of such a carton in a form of construction requiring a minimum amount of material in proportion to its strength and capable of being readily and economically manufactured.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank of sheet material cut, scored and glued ready for folding;

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the blank shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are views similar to Fig. 2, but showing progressive steps in the folding and gluing of the blank;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation showing the completed carton in process of erection;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the erected carton;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of one end of the carton as viewed from the right in Fig. 7, and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional elevation on line 9--9 in Fig. 8, but showing the cover closed.

This invention is an improvement on the general type of carton disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,340,753, for the purpose of producing a stronger and more practical, economical and convenient carton.

The embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, by way of illustration, comprises, preferably, a one-piece blank of cardboard, or other suitable sheet material, cut, scored and glued for folding, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The blank is of generally rectangular shape adapted to be economically cut from stock material, comprising, in order from left to right in Fig. 1, a cover fastening flap 2!), a cover 2|, an outer rear sid wall 22, outer bottom sections 23 and 24, a front wall 25, top wall 26, an inner rear wall 21, inner bottom section 28, longitudinal partition sections 29 and 30, a second inner bottom section 3| and an attaching strip 32.

These several sections of the blank are separated by transversely extending score lines, as shown in the drawing, to facilitate folding, as well understood in the art. The top wall 26 is cut and scored to provide for the down folding of a series of cross partitions 26a for separating the carton transversely into cells. Thus the blank is cut through along the lines 33 and scored along the lines 34 to permit the downward folding of the cross partitions 26a, as shown in Figs. 7 to 9, inclusive, for coaction with a longitudinal partition, hereafter described, to divide the carton into a dozen cells. The blank is cut out, as at 36, between the cross partitions, to free their lower edges which are notched or slitted centrally, as at 31, for engagement with the longitudinal partition. Short cuts 38 give flexibility to the side edges of the slits 31 to assist in the frictional engagement of the cross partitions with the longitudinal partition, as disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,277,327. The four cross partitions adjacent one end of the box and shown at the top in Fig. 1 fold downwardly at their lower edges as shown in the drawing, while the three partitions at the other end of the box are reversely arranged and fold downwardly at their upper edges as shown in the drawings. Each cross partition is centrally scored longitudinally of the carton, as at 39, in addition to the slits 37, to facilitate the central folding of these partitions in the collapsed condition of the carton hereafter referred to.

The longitudinal partition sections 29 and 3B are formed with cut-out portions or notches, as 42, to provide, when erected, a series of notches in the upper edge of the partition, to allow the cross partitions to swing down and engage the lower portion of the longitudinal portions in the slits 37 of the cross partitions. These sections 29 and 30, are separated from each other by a score line 4! extending longitudinally of the carton to assist in folding them and they are separated from the adjacent bottom sections by interrupted score lines 42 and 43, to facilitate the folding of the bottom sections along these lines. Portions of the sections 29 and 30 between the segments of the score lines 42 and 43 are cut out from the bottom sections 28 and SI to project downwardly and form supporting feet 30a in the erected position of the parts.

The outer bottom wall sectionsr23 and 24: are separatedfrom each other by the score'line' 46 and from the outer rear wall 22 and the front wall 25 by score lines 41 and 8, respectively, tofacilitate bending of the outer bottom sections in the collapsed condition of the carton. The side walls 25 and 27 are preferably separated from the cross partitions zfiwbyscore lines-ML and 59, to facilitate folding.

The inner surface of the outer side wall-22 or the outer surface of the inner side wall 21 is provided with a glued strip, as One of thelongitudinal partitions is. provided with a glued strip,v as;-E2',;andi:the side wall 250! the. attaching; strip; 32; is provided; with an application of glue; as .at'53, for adhesively securingthese parts. together.

In t]. e foldimgofthe blank, the attachingstrip 32.,is preferably, folded back on the inner bottom sectiorrBl and sectionstfitand 3! are folded'about line 51 against sections; 28.; and 29, sections 29 and Silbeing. adhesively'connected by the glued strip 352;; Secti'ons:.28.z:to 31, inclusive, are. then folded overaaboutthescore line 44 so as, to over-, lie the inner rear side wall 21 and one-half of. the cross-partitions 26a; as shown in Fig. 3. These parts. including'the inner rear side wall 2,? and, the other half ofthe cross partitionsfifiaare then folded-over about the score lines 39'to overlie the other half of the cross partitions an the front sidewall to which' the attaching strip, 32 is glued, as shown'inFig; 4; These parts, together with the part2zl, are then folded about the scoreline it-to the positionshown in Fig.- 5, the inner and outer-rear-walls being glued together by thegluedstrip-St, as shown. Instead, if desired, tojsimplify the folding operations-, thesections ZU 'to 23, inclusive, may be reversely folded about scoreline ifi tooverlie the remainder of the blank folded as. above described, as: well understood in the-art,. the result in either case being as shownzin-Fig; 5;

After completion ofthe folding and gluing. of. the blank as. describedxaboye, it is preferred to break the material along, the score-lines 42,- 43, and M. to.5l;, inclusive; and to bend the-outer bottom sections 23 and ZfilupWa-rdly between-the. inner bottom sections.-28,and 3|, to one side of, the feet 38a, to assist in-theerection of the-care ton and so that the parts will be disposed, after. erection, to lie in proper shape. Th v outer bottom of the carton may be left bent downwardly or outwardly, however,. as. shown inv Fig 6, if..so. desired.

In. erecting the carton for use, as indicated in. Fig. 6, the longitudinalv partition 29.3fl is, pref-Z erably forced downwardly, pressing downwardlythe inner bottom sections 28 and 3 I, thus separat ing the side walls 222'!. and 25 and moving the outer bottom sections 23 and 24 and also the cross partitions 26a to horizontal position. Inthis position, the cross partitions. are swung downward ly about their fold'lines on hinges 35. In this erecting movement, the cross partitions swing downwardly in the notches id-of the longitudinal partition and straddleand engage itslower portion in their 'slits .31- to frictionally retain the cross. partitions .in erected position. The 'end cross partitions preferably have the central p01-' tions 54 of their lower edges projected sufliciently to engage in the openings left by the downturning feet 30a of the longitudinal partition sections 29 and 30, these openings serving also to ventilate the cells by connecting them with the space between inner and outer bottom sections. It will be noted that-since the inner bottom sections 28 and3l and the longitudinal partition 293U are folded upwardly, the cross partitions 26a have their notches or slits 31 continuously engaged with the longitudinal partition, in both collapsed and erected "positions, thereby obviatin the adjustment of suchparts to each other and facilitating the erectionof the carton.

Thepartsare thus brought to the erected position-shown inuliigs. 7, 8, and 9, from which it will be seen that the bottoms of the cells are formed-by the inner bottom sections 28 and 3|, which are inclined inwardly and upwardly from theirouter to their inner edges tat asubstantial angle to thehorizontal outer'bottom section's'23 and2 l; so asto: providethe cells with resiliently cushioned bottom walls onwhich eggs or' other fragile articles are effectively supported and pro-.- tested: against impacts and crushing. This im clineddisposition of the bottom sections supports one'longitudinal edge of each section on the carton bottom while providing substantialoushioning separation therefrom with a minimum of overall height and tends tontip the articles outwardly in their cells-away fronreach: other on oppositesides of the central partition; These cushioning bottom sections are also supported by thelongitudinal series of feet 38a which rest on the. outerbottom wall. The latter'ties together thebottoms of theside'wa-lls and-,the'outer sides of the cushioning sections AEl'and 3i, these-parts wardly substantially level with the top of the longitudinal partition29-3fl to hingedly support the rear edge of the cover zt which has atitsfront edge the flange 20 provided. with hooks 55 and atab 5i'i-adapted, when" closed; to engageunder. and between the hinge portions'of the cross partitions 26; to support the cover and retain-itin closed position, thecover beingrthus supported longitudinally along both front and rear edges and also atits center bythe top-edge of the longitudinal partition.

Itwill be further noted that the feet Mia-are located inside the outer bottom wall 2324 which,

together with. the other walls, present smooth outer surfaces free from projections likely to become engaged or entangled with other cartons andiinterfere'with the compact stacking-0f the cartons.

The above advantages are accomplished by a construction requiring a minimum of materialv and -capable of being readilyand economically manufactured. The-construction collapses for shipment. .into compact. fiatshape, as shownin Fig. 5, or with the bottom sections 23 24 folded inwardly and. is easilyandconveniently erected byhand. or with-the- .assista ce-of mechanical. erecting devices, to the erected. filling position showncin Figs. 7 to 9, inclusivea It will thus be seen that the inventioniaccompl-ishes -its objects, and .while. it has been herein disclosed lay-referenceto the details ofa preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, as it is contemplated that various modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cellular carton comprising a blank of sheet material cut and scored to form front and rear side walls, a cover hinged to one of said side walls, a bottom wall hinged to and connecting said side walls, inwardly and upwardly inclined inner cushioning bottom sections hingedly connected to said. side walls at the junctions of said side and bottom walls, respectively, and having inner portions folded upwardly and glued together in juxtaposed relation to provide a central longitudinal partition having its upper edge located in supporting proximity to said cover and having longitudinally spaced notches in the upper edge thereof, a top wall hinged to said front and rear walls and having therein a series of cross partitions hingedly connected thereto and adapted to be swung downwardly in straddling engagement with said longitudinal partition to separate the carton cells, said cross partitions having notched lower edges for engaging said longitudinal partition in said notches thereof, and supporting means depending from said longitudinal partition for engagement with said bottom wall, said supporting means, bottom sections and bottom wall forming a relatively rigid, truss-like support of substantially triangular shape for firm- 1y supporting said cushioning bottom sections and longitudinal partition and cover, with a smooth outer bottom surface for said carton.

2. A cellular carton comprising a blank of sheet material out and scored to form front and rear side walls, a cover hinged to said rear side wall, a bottom wall hinged to and connecting said side walls, inwardly and upwardly inclined inner cushioning bottom sections, one of said sections being hingedly connected to said rear side and bottom walls at the line of folding therebetween and the other of said sections having an attaching strip adhesively secured to said front side and bottom walls at the line of folding therebetween, said sections having inner portions folded upwardly and glued together in juxtaposed relation to provide a central longitudinal partition having its upper edge located in supporting proximity to said cover and formed with longitudinally spaced notches, a top wall hinged to said front and rear side walls and having therein a series of cross partitions hingedly connected thereto and adapted to be swung downwardly in straddling engagement with said longitudinal partition to separate the carton cells, said cross partitions having notched lower edges for engaging said longitudinal partition in said notches thereof, and supporting means, depending from said longitudinal partition for engagement with said bottom wall, said supporting means, bottom sections and bottom wall forming a relatively rigid, truss-like support of substantially triangular shape for firmly supporting said cushioning bottom sections and longitudinal partition and cover, with a smooth outer bottom surface for said carton.

3. Av collapsible cellular carton comprising a one-piece blank of sheet material out and scored to form front and rear side walls, said rear Wall being extended upwardly above said front wall and having a cover hingedly connected thereto, a bottom Wall hinged to and connecting the bottoms of said side walls, inwardly and upwardly inclined inner cushioning bottom sections having hingedly connected portions adhesively secured to said front and rear walls at the junctions of said side and bottom walls, respectively, said sections having inner portions hingedly connected therewith and with each other and folded upwardly and glued together in juxtaposed relation to provide a central longitudinal partition having its folded upper edge located in supporting proximity to said cover and formed with longitudinally spaced notches, a top wall hinged to and connected with said front and rear walls and having therein a series of cross partitions hingedly connected thereto and adapted to be swung downwardly in straddling engagement with said longitudinal partition to separate the carton cells, said cross partitions having notched lower edges for engaging said longitudinal partition in said notches thereof, and supporting means depending from said longitudinal partition below said bottom sections for engagement with said bottom wall, said supporting means, bottom sections and bottom wall forming, when erected, a relatively rigid support of substantially triangular, trusslike shape for firmly supporting said cushioning bottom sections and longitudinal partition and cover, and said top and bottom walls being formed with central longitudinal score lines, whereby said top wall and cross partitions may be folded upwardly in continuous engagement with said longitudinal partition and said bottom wall folded centrally for collapsing said carton to substantially flat condition.

WILLIAM H. INMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,980,597 Reich Nov. 13, 1934 2,103,382 Petter Dec. 28, 1937 2,340,753 Inman Feb. 1, 1944 2,374,382 Rutledge Apr. 24, 1945 

